Geranium plant named ‘Fiwored’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Fiwored’, characterized by its upright and uniformly rounded plant habit; freely branching habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves with a zonation pattern; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; and star-shaped bright red-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIWORED’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fiwored’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform Zonal Geranium plants with star-shaped flowers and attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany during the summer of 2004 of two unnamed proprietary selections of Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented. The new Zonal Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Dresden, Germany during the spring of 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Dresden, Germany since January, 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Fiwored’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Fiwored’ as a new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant:

-   -   1. Upright and uniformly rounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves with a zonation pattern.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Long flowering period.     -   7. Star-shaped bright red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in plant vigor and flower color.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of the Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Fiwoscarl’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,303. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Dresden, Germany, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed from plants of ‘Fiwoscarl’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were smaller than plants of         ‘Fiwoscarl’.     -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were not as vigorous as         plants of ‘Fiwoscarl’.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Zonal Geranium had a less intense         zonation pattern than leaves of plants of ‘Fiwoscarl’.     -   4. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had smaller flowers than         plants of ‘Fiwoscarl’.     -   5. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had darker red-colored         flowers than plants of ‘Fiwoscarl’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Zonal Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Zonal Geranium plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Fiwored’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 19-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Dresden, Germany and under conditions which closely approximate commercial Zonal Geranium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18° C., night temperatures averaged 16° C. and light levels ranged from 15 kilolux to 100 kilolux. Plants were three months old when the photograph was taken, and plants were nine months old when the description was taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Fiwored’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 30 days             at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 30 days             at temperatures of 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant/growth habit.—Upright and uniformly rounded plant             habit; densely foliated; moderately vigorous growth habit;             freely basal branching habit with about 30 lateral branches             developing per plant.         -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 40 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of leaves.—About 30 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 40 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 25 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Internode length: About 1 cm. Texture: Slightly pubescent.             Color: Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 4 cm.         -   Width.—About 7 cm.         -   Shape.—Star-shaped.         -   Apex.—Pointed.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Lobed.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Fine pubescence;             felt-like.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 146A; venation, close to 146A. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,             close to 146C.         -   Zonation pattern.—Intensity: Medium. Location of zone: About             2 mm from the margin. Width: About 2 cm. Color: Close to             147A.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 146A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Single star-shaped flowers arranged in             rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils;             umbels displayed above the foliar plane on strong peduncles;             flowers mostly flat and face upright to outward depending on             the position in the umbel.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 30 umbels             develop per plant; each umbel with about 25 flower buds and             open flowers.         -   Flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 80 days after             planting; in the greenhouse, plants flower year-round; in             the garden in Germany, flowering is continuous from April             until frost in the autumn.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about six to ten             days on the plant; umbels last about three to four weeks on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 6 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 8 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.5 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Shape: Roughly elliptic. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower arranged             in a single whorl. Length, upper and lower petals: About             2.6 cm. Width, upper petals: About 8 mm. Width, lower             petals: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Roughly rhomboid. Apex:             Emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Serrate. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 43A;             towards the base, close to 155A; venation, close to 43A;             color does not change with development. When opening and             fully opened, lower surface: Close to 43B; towards the base,             close to 155D; venation, close to 43B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower arranged             in a single whorl. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 2 mm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 13 cm. Diameter: About             3 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Mostly erect or outwardly             slanted. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 3 cm.             Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong; flexible. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity of stamens: About             eight per flower. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape:             Tubular. Anther color: Close to 164B. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to 167A. Gynoecium: Quantity of pistils:             One per flower. Pistil length: About 8 mm. Stigma shape:             Six-parted. Stigma color: Close to 58B. Style length: About             3 mm. Style color: Close to 58B. Ovary color: Close to 138D.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Zonal Geranium. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal     Geraniums. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been     observed to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about     1° C. to about 35° C. to 40° C. and have demonstrated good garden     performance. 

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Fiwored’ as illustrated and described. 